MANY OF the world heavyweight champions from the 20th century never fought in the UK, including three of the greatest, Jack Dempsey, Joe Louis and Rocky Marciano. Others were frequent visitors – most notably Muhammad Ali, who boxed here three times, Mike Tyson, who came twice, and Primo Carnera, who won seven of his eight British contests between 1929 and 1932.
The list of greats who only boxed here once includes Joe Frazier, George Foreman, Jack Johnson, Floyd Patterson and Ezzard Charles.
Outside of the heavyweights, Mickey Walker, Marvin Hagler, Archie Moore, Henry Armstrong and Billy Papke, all of whom were of the very highest class, also visited these shores on one occasion.
Two others can be found in the light-heavyweight division. John Henry Lewis reigned supreme during the mid-1930s,…
